Canadian Institute of Forestry eLectures, 2012

These presentations are a selection of eLectures given during 2012 and put on by the Canadian Institute of Forestry. The theme of the talks was “Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Ongoing History of Canada’s Forests”

Citation: Ken Armson and Rob Galloway, “The Forest History Society of Ontario” and “Englehart Management Unit Area Forest History 1912-2000”, CIF Lecture Series. 6 June 2012.Bio: Ken Armson is the chair of the Forest History Society of Ontario. Previously, he was the Provincial Forester, with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Rob Galloway is a Registered Professional Forester, having retired after 30 years with the Ministry of Natural Resources. He is currently the northeast director of the Ontario Forest History Society.Abstract: In this talk, Ken introduces us to rationale behind the recent creation of the Ontario forest history society, as well as providing an outline of their many exciting activities. In the second talk talk, rich with personal detail, Rob shares insights into events in this district, including logging, sawmills, mining, and railroad construction. In addition to drawing upon his own long experience, Rob enlists archival evidence, and the oral history reminiscences of his great-grandfather, who also worked here in 1912.Armson/Galloway Slides

Citation: David Brownstein, “Canadian Forest History: A Path Forward?” CIF Lecture Series. 27 June 2012.Bio: David is the principal of Klahanie Research Ltd, and a sessional instructor in the Dept of Geography, at UBC.Abstract: In the last talk of the series, David describes the goals of the Canadian Forest History Preservation Project, and some of the forest history collections, the donation of which he has facilitated into the archives. He also leads the audience through some things to consider when contemplating an archival donation. Finally, he examines both the current challenges and future opportunities facing those interested in Canadian Forest History.Brownstein Slides

Citation: Jim Farrell and Mark Kuhlberg, “Canada’s Forest History: Deep Roots Support Strong Growth” and “Watching the Dust Settle for the First Time: Battling the Budworm from the Air in Cape Breton, 1925-27”. CIF Lecture Series.Bio: Jim graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. He worked for the Abitibi Paper Company (later Abitibi Consolidated) in Manitoba and Ontario supervising forestry operations, and buying and selling logs for company mills. He also worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Toronto.

Mark is an Assistant Professor of History, at Laurention University, and Director of the department’s MA program. His expertise is in Forest History, having published a book and many articles on the history of forestry education in Ontario and British Columbia, Industry Silvicultural Initiatives and Government Forest Policy in Ontario, The Department of Aboriginal Affairs administration of aboriginal timber, and he is currently working on a history of Canadian forest entomology in the 1910s and 20s. Mark also spent 20 years working in the silvicultural industry in Ontario and Alberta, and is a member of several volunteer forest history and forestry boards.

Abstract: The talk provides context for the series, including Jim’s thoughts on forest history, the relationship between professional foresters and history, demographic shifts within the forest industry, and the possible future role of the CIF in Canadian forest history.

Mark’s talk is part of a larger SSHRC project. Here, Mark’s argument is that a unique intersection of forces dictated that Nova Scotia would be the site of the first Canadian attempt to combat the spruce budworm, through the aerial application of chemicals.Farrell Kuhlberg Slides

Citation: Hébert, Martin. “Societe d’histoire forestiere du Quebec” CIF Lecture Series. 13 June 2012.Bio: Dr. Martin Hébert is a professor of Anthropology at Laval University, and the vice-president of the Quebec Forest History Society.Abstract: Martin describes the impressive list of projects undertaken by the Society, and illustrates in practical fashion how it is possible to incorporate multiple views of forest history, to great effect.Hebert Slides

Citation: Bruce Mayer and Peter Murphy. “Alberta’s Forest History and the Forest History Association of Alberta” and “The Jackladder: Tie Logging on the Whirlpool (in Jasper Park in the 1920s)”, CIF Lecture Series. 30 May 2012.Bio: Bruce Mayer, is the assistant deputy minister, forestry division, with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. He is also the secretary/treasurer of the Forest History Association of Alberta.

Peter Murphy is a professor emeritus of forestry at the University of Alberta, where he taught from 1973 to 1995. He is also a past president of the Forest History Society.

Abstract: Bruce’s explores the forest history of Alberta, a comparatively young province, tracing the origins of forest management back to it’s dominion/federal origins. He also gives an account of the Forest History Association of Alberta, including book projects, a self-guided eco-tour of the Northern Rockies, digitization and oral history efforts.

Peter’s talk is an Alberta story, with strong connections to Ontario, and the upper Fraser River in BC. The Whirlpool is an historic trade route, mapped by David Thompson in 1811. Peter outlines the history of tie logging in this area, supported by both archival evidence, and impressive exploration in the field. Through this process, he locates, photographs and maps the astonishing vestiges of this forgotten landscape.Mayer Murphy Slides

Citation: Mark J. McLaughlin and William Parenteau, “The New Brunswick Forest Authority, 1973-1980: An Experiment in Government Managed Forests” and “Progressive Forest Legislation in New Brunswick, 1906-1918”, CIF Lecture Series. 20 June 2012.Bio: Mark is a PhD candidate in history, at The University of New Brunswick.
William Parenteau is a professor of history at the University of New Brunswick.Abstract: In this talk, Mark contextualizes this northeastern high modernist experiment, in the local and general context of 1970s New Brunswick.

Bill describes significant milestones in the emergence of progressive New Brunswick forest legislation, a region neglected in the literature, when compared to elsewhere in Canada and the United States. He locates this story within a variety of environmental, economic and political currents in the early twentieth century. The focus of this talk is Gilbert H. Prince, one of the first graduates of the UNB Forestry School and a significant author of landmark 1918 forest legislation.McLaughlin Parenteau Slides

Citation: Stan Chester and Mike Apsey, “BC Forest History – Past, Present and Future.” and “The BC Forest Service Centenary”, CIF Lecture Series, 23 May, 2012.Bio: Stan Chester, is the president of the Forest History Association of British Columbia.

Mike Apsey is a former deputy minister of forests in British Columbia, and he is the current president of the BC Forest Service Centenary Society.

Abstract: In this talk, Stan describes the structure and activities of the FHABC. He further examines the shifts in the BC forest products industry, and parallel changes in forest history practice. These latter practices are important in the light of disappearing primary sources, and the advent of perpetually changing “born digital” information.

In this two-part talk, Mike outlines the activities of the BCFS Centenary Society, planned for the duration of 2012. He also shares an outline of the last century of BC forest history more generally.